Jones Cleaners reopens

Published 4:00 pm Friday, June 25, 2010

Jones Cleaners in Warrior has reopened with new owners.

Joel Dulaney opened the store with his wife, Cindy, two weeks ago. They said they met the former owners, Jerry and Rhonda Davis, through a mutual friend and bought the store from them when they learned that Warrior no longer had a dry cleaner.

“We love Warrior, and we’re glad to be here,” said Dulaney.

The Davises blamed their closing in part on the Blount County boycott of local businesses. The boycott was brought on by the city of Warrior’s decision to collect a 1.5 percent sales tax from businesses in their police jurisdiction, which extends about a mile-and-a-half outside the city limits.

“I’m not nervous about it,” said Dulaney. “I think the communities are coming back together.” Dulaney said dry cleaning was not taxable because it is a service, and that customers would not be paying money to the city of Warrior or any other city. He said business has been good so far, and that he felt like the business had the support of the community and the city.

“I’m just tickled pink that they’re back,” said Warrior city councilman Johnny Ragland. “I’m tired of Hayden getting all the publicity. It’s about time we got some.” Ragland is a long-time customer of Jones Cleaners along with other city officials, including Mayor Rena Hudson.

“The mayor has already brought some clothes in,” said Dulaney. “People are coming and saying ‘Hallelujah, you’re back’ like it’s the greatest thing ever.”

The Dulaneys have been in dry cleaning since 2001, but they just ran “routes”; that means that they picked up clothes from people’s homes and carried them to other dry cleaners, then delivered the clothes back.

“This is the first plant we’ve owned, and it’s better because now we have more control,” said Dulaney. “All dry cleaning is done on the premises.” The Dulaneys are looking into offering some new services as well, such as on-site laundry.

Dulaney said they were planning to have a grand opening celebration in July. Jones Cleaners is located on 401 Main Street in Warrior.